Theoretical
Puritan Board Professor
This is a strange question to ask, I suppose, but I've been strongly drawn to spending a year or two in the UK for my studies, and also as a mission opportunity. I've never been able to pin down the specifics of this desire, but it has been consistently present for the last 6-7 years of my life.
Anyway, one of the things I've been trying to do is scope out the church situation in this nation, since I'd want to attend and hopefully help serve a sound congregation while I was there. I've identified the Free Church of Scotland as what would appear to be a promising denominational possibility, and I've even considered this intriguing apprenticeship for 2 years down the line as perhaps a very good guideline as to what my vocation should be. For reference, this coming academic year, I look to spend the time in D.C. in law-oriented internships. Basically, I see the next two years as being ideal opportunities for me to get hands-on experience within these two vocations (appellate law or full-time church-related ministry in a host of areas).
This denomination seems to be fairly strict on the WCF and EP, but beyond those I'm unsure as to where they'd compare to the more familiar denominations in the US. I've listened to some of the head pastor of London City Presbyterian Church's sermons, and they've been quite edifying. Given my being very new to the Reformed faith and finally attending churches that I can actually recommend to people, I know I have lots to learn about discerning the quality of a church. So, I ask the PBers here what the general opinion is of the FCS and where it stands.
Also, for reference, I am a PCAer, but I'm a WCF strict subscriptionist, so I'd be more than happy to attend a "stricter/more confessionally Reformed" congregation.
Anyway, one of the things I've been trying to do is scope out the church situation in this nation, since I'd want to attend and hopefully help serve a sound congregation while I was there. I've identified the Free Church of Scotland as what would appear to be a promising denominational possibility, and I've even considered this intriguing apprenticeship for 2 years down the line as perhaps a very good guideline as to what my vocation should be. For reference, this coming academic year, I look to spend the time in D.C. in law-oriented internships. Basically, I see the next two years as being ideal opportunities for me to get hands-on experience within these two vocations (appellate law or full-time church-related ministry in a host of areas).
This denomination seems to be fairly strict on the WCF and EP, but beyond those I'm unsure as to where they'd compare to the more familiar denominations in the US. I've listened to some of the head pastor of London City Presbyterian Church's sermons, and they've been quite edifying. Given my being very new to the Reformed faith and finally attending churches that I can actually recommend to people, I know I have lots to learn about discerning the quality of a church. So, I ask the PBers here what the general opinion is of the FCS and where it stands.
Also, for reference, I am a PCAer, but I'm a WCF strict subscriptionist, so I'd be more than happy to attend a "stricter/more confessionally Reformed" congregation.